Zenit defeated Runa at home – 93:62 (28:17, 20:20, 29:10, 16:15).
Game progress
The Moscow team relied on play throught the paint at the start of the game and had a lead – 13:9. Kyle Kuric responded with 6 straight points to inspire Zenit to a 15:0 run that helped the hosts take a double-digit lead at the end of the first quarter – 28:17. The guests offense wasn’t working properly, as Runa had difficult shots at the end of possessions. The hosts took advantage of their opponent’s problems and after 3 long-range shots increased their lead to 18 points. Erturul Erdogan was then forced to use a timeout, which restored the game. During the remainder of the first half, Runa made 3 three-pointers, 6 of 6 free throws, and cut the difference to 11 points by the halftime – 48:37.
Key moment
The beginning of the third quarter was the defining moment of the game. Sergey Karasev and Thomas Heurtel scored 13 points combined in the first 4 minutes of the second half and the lead was 21 points. The Vikings continued to have problems in offence and only made 4 shots in the third quarter. Zenit regularly created fastbreaks, used bigmen in the paint and increased the difference.
As a result, such a game let Pascual to use almost everyone on the roster – 11 of 12 players scored points. The St Petersburg team won the second half by 18 points and the game – 93:62.
X-factor
Three-pointers were the key to win. The hosts shooters made 45% of long-range shots, and Sergey Karasev’s 3 three-pointers in a row started Zenit key run at the start of the second half.
Fact
In 4 of the last 5 games, Zenit missed the opponents’ run right after the halftime, which led to losses against UNICS and Loko, as well as tense endings against PARMA and Avtodor. Today, the St. Petersburg team was able to win the third quarter 29:10.
Leaders
Zenit: Sergey Karasev (16 + 5 rebounds), Kyle Kuric (15), Bojan Dubljevic (10).
Runa: Ilia Popov (16 + 5 rebounds), Cameron Young (10).
What’s next
Zenit (17-7): 28 January on the road against Pari Nizhny Novgorod
Runa (10-14): 28 January at home versus Astana.
